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A Rapid Assessment Report on Cash Vouchers for Basic Foods in Yemen

Matt Styslinger, Leland Fellow. Published in 2013

In February 2013, a rapid assessment was conducted in Al Mukha, Mawza, and Dhubab Districts in Taiz Governorate in Yemen to measure the impact of Mercy Corps’ Taiz Emergency Food Security Program (TEFP) at the beneficiary household level and to deepen agency understanding of livelihood needs and opportunities in program communities. TEFP—implemented from April 2012 through May 2013—is funded by the United States Agency for International Development’s (USAID) Office of Food for Peace. The program uses a local and regional procurement (LRP) approach to delivering food aid, providing vouchers to almost 9,000 vulnerable households. The vouchers can be redeemed at any one of 80+ participating local vendors for four food commodities, which were chosen to enhance nutrition: rice, wheat flour, kidney beans, and Vitamin A & D fortified cooking oil. The vouchers help households meet approximately 30 percent of their monthly food needs. The LRP approach is designed to support the economic resilience of the local food market in times of crisis, as well as allow beneficiaries the freedom to choose where and when to purchase basic food commodities. A video highlight of the project can be found at: bit.ly/Y4ItTO. A photo essay highlighting the project can be found at: bit.ly/Y6ZOve. I also produced a report on the results of the TEFP based on the rapid assessment.